Best Diet, Exercise & Sleep for Weight Loss: Leptin & Thyroid Hormones

Diet Confusion Solved! A Functional Medicine MD cuts through the noise (Keto, Paleo, Mediterranean) to reveal the only thing that matters for weight loss. Learn why sleep is 80% of the battle, how Leptin and Ghrelin control hunger, and the hormone testing you need to stop gaining weight. This is Part 2 of the essential guide to weight loss, contrasting GLP-1s and fasting with daily lifestyle factors. Dr. Skelton explains why exercise contributes only 10–20% to weight loss and why Thyroid levels, Leptin, and Cortisol are the real levers of metabolic health. You will learn: Diet Reality: Why Keto, Paleo, and Mediterranean diets all work, but only if they are Whole Food-based and personalized to your body's needs.  The Sleep-Hormone Connection: How poor sleep crashes Leptin (the appetite suppressant) and spikes Ghrelin (the hunger hormone), driving you to crave carbs.   The Cortisol Trap: How financial, work, or relationship stress increases Cortisol, spiking blood sugar and causing insulin resistance and weight gain. The Importance of Testing: Why thyroid, testosterone, vitamin D, and B12 testing are necessary before you start any diet or fasting plan. Action Item: Discover your individual nutrient deficiencies and hormone levels! Learn more about the 90 Days to Begin Living Life Well course and our personalized assessments at livelifewellclinic.com. Don't Forget! If you found this information helpful, please Follow the show on Spotify or Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! If you're looking to move away from mainstream, medication-based, symptom care to TRUE Health and Wellness, schedule a FREE Discovery Call today at Schedule your FREE Discovery Call | Schedule an Telemedicine Appointment Today! (livelifewellclinic.com) Time    (02:00) What is the Best Diet? The truth about Keto, Paleo, and Mediterranean (05:15) The Whole Food Principle: Why processing is the main cause of health issues (06:50) Elimination Diet testing: Why you must personalize your diet to your body's needs (08:35) Exercise vs. Diet: Why movement only accounts for 10–20% of weight loss (10:20) Hormonal Boosts from Exercise: Dopamine, Serotonin, and HGH (Human Growth Hormone) (11:00) Sleep Cycles & Cortisol: Why waking up too early spikes stress hormones and causes weight gain (13:30) Leptin and Ghrelin: How lack of sleep increases hunger and carb cravings